"Anything that’s 'big' gives you nerves. I’m incredibly proud to be British and past of this team at a home Games in London. I want to make the most of that opportunity. The other guys do too.

"In the Tour de France you’ve got 21 days to try and do something. Here, it’s a one-off hit. You have to try to execute first time.

"But we’re racing in a sport with infinite variables, whether it’s luck or someone has a good day, you have a bad day. That’s what makes cycling special and it's also what makes you very nervous."

With nine laps of the Box Hill circuit, which includes 162metres of climbing, the course is far from perfect for a sprinter like Cavendish, but he has trained all season for the extra demands of the event, losing weight and improving his endurance.

"I would have preferred a totally flat course, if I’m honest, but the course is good.

"I can’t remember in a major championship a road as narrow as Box Hill. There’s one bike plus one car wide.

"If the peloton’s split it’s going to be carnage to get a wheel and you will be in strife if you get a puncture on that climb.

"The atmosphere should be great though.

"We are going to be sprinting up Box Hill in five-minute efforts, its not like an Alpine climb, and I need four of the strongest bike riders in the world to be able to do that. Luckily I’ve got four of the strongest bike riders in the world around me.

"Its not just Box Hill, it’s everything after it. You know your capacity of what you can do and it’s about being able to make the most of the recovery time in between."

Calling the tactical shots as road captain for Team GB will be the vastly experienced David Millar, riding in his first Olympics since the 2000 Games in Sydney.

He served a drug ban between 2004 and 2006 and returned to crusade for clean cycling. He won a stage of the Tour de France a fortnight ago.

Millar is able to take his place in Saturday's race because the British Olympic Association's lifetime Olympic ban on former drug cheats was overturned earlier this year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Cavendish sees the Scot as a key man in the team, especially in a race in which race radios are not allowed. Crucial racing decisions will have to be made on the hoof.

"Dave is able to stay calm and analyse the situations really, really well. He knows the sport incredibly well and he’s not scared to call the shots. He’s not hesitant.

"That’s great if we have got someone who knows how to read a race and is willing to take the responsibility and call the shots, it’s refreshing to have.

"And he’s strong, which is good. He’s committed. He knows how to ride for a sprint, he knows how to ride for a climb, he knows how to ride on all types of terrain.

"The longer I can put off thinking about the race, during the race, the better. Thinking about what’s happening, making calls, making actions, making decisions.

"Every decision you have to make is using energy. Every form of mental stress is as detrimental as physical stress. To have that taken away can save you a lot of energy."